Artwork in W/O Limits: Art, Chronic Illness, & Disability at the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve in Cleveland

Here’s my work in the exhibition W/O Limits. To read about this special art exhibition, click here.

click on images to enlarge

ASTERISCUS III, 2021
uv cured inkjet on acrylic mounted to composite aluminum and cut out on a cnc router,
dimensions variable, 54.5″h x 41.75″w overall, edition 1 of 3
photo courtesy Stuart Allen Pearl
OCTOLUX I, 2021
uv cured inkjet on acrylic mounted to composite aluminum,
47.5″ X 47.5″, edition 1 of 3
photo courtesy Stuart Allen Pearl
photo courtesy Stuart Allen Pearl
TEN BOXES ON A BOX, 2022
uv cured inkjet on acrylic mounted to composite aluminum and cut out on a cnc router
dimensions variable, 72″h x 30″w overall, edition 1 of 3
photo courtesy Stuart Allen Pearl
photo courtesy Stuart Allen Pearl
ESCAPE HASH
3D printed interconnected blocks

HASH SIGNS RHOMBOHEDRON – II: CNC Cut-out Print on Acrylic

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HASHES AND A RHOMBOHEDRON – 2, 2022
(orthographic projection view from a 3d model)
uv cured inkjet on cnc cut acrylic/composite alum, mtd. 2″ off wall
dimensions variable (45″h x37″w overall), edition of 3

This new series is kind of a hybrid artwork. It begins in 3d and transforms into 2d.  I use the 3d modeling software Moment of Inspiration (MOI) and blender, an open source 3d program. I do the 3d modeling with MOI because it’s easy to navigate and it’s very responsive and fast. I then go to Blender to render the 3d model.

This is a cuboid shape that has hash symbols carved into it, one on each of the 6 sides. This exposes another cuboid inner cuboid (in red). Now the cuboid is a special shape, what in Euclidean geometry is called a Rhombohedron. A rhombohedron is a cuboid with 3 pairs of rhombi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuboid

This view is if my virtual camera eyes were hovering above and me turned upside down and looking down. I played with the light source, a source that mimics the rays of the sun, at different positions as it makes its arc through the day. The artwork hung on the wall looks to be upside down but in reality it was me that was upside down in virtual space, capturing a snapshot of it from my upside down vantage point.

The virtual world is dynamic where I can move in space with no regards to gravity. Up and down is relative to my position in virtual space. 

I chose not to do a perspective view but rather an orthographic view. From Britannica:
Orthographic projection is a common method of representing three-dimensional objects, usually by three two-dimensional drawings in each of which the object is viewed along parallel lines that are perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

Orthographic views are often used by engineers and architects to explain a design in the form of construction drawings.

HASH SIGNS RHOMBOHEDRON – I: CNC Cut-out Print on Acrylic

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HASH SIGNS RHOMBOHEDRON – I, 2022
(orthographic projection view from a 3d model)
uv cured inkjet on cnc cut acrylic/composite alum, mtd. 2″ off wall
dimensions variable (38″h x60″w overall), edition of 3

My 3d explorations of the Hash symbol began with the realization that if you inscribed a hash symbol, you would get a Rhombus, that is both pairs of opposite sides are parallel and the same length. So when Megan Alves, Artists Archives Marketing and Program Manager asked me if I wanted to do a 3d printed tactile touchable artwork for the exhibition W/O Limits, I was honored and I immediately knew it would be the hash symbol I would make. So, I went back to its shape, a rhombus and realized that when putting together 6 of these in cubic form it makes a Rhombohedron. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhombohedron The rhombohedron would become the building block of the sculpture. My Hash Symbol Monument would follow.

So that brings me to this artwork. Utilizing two 3d programs, Moment of Inspiration (MOI) for the 3d modeling, and Blender for visualization and rendering, I have found these to open up new avenues of expression in 2d. I can take a 3d model and have unlimited viewpoints and lighting to play with. This piece is an orthographic projection where lines are parallelly projected as opposed to a perspective view with vanishing points.

click on image to enlarge

Types of Cuboids from Wikipedia page on Cuboids
Rhombohedron shown on right

W/O Limits: Art, Chronic Illness, and Disability at the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve

AAWR Ad in Canvas Cleveland Magazine 2022 Fall Edition

I’m very honored and excited about the upcoming group exhibition W/O Limits: ART, CHRONIC ILLNESS, & DISABILITY at the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve. I’m with the company of 8 other wonderful artists Sarah Brown, Kristi Copez, Chappelle Letman Jr., MANDEM, Meg Matko, Arabella Proffer, Nate Puppets and Kate Snow.and how we create with our challenges is what this exhibition is all about. Read On; below is info about the opening. Hope you an make it.

I have 3 prints on acylic, two of which are geometrically cut out on a cnc machine. As part of the AAWR curators Megan Alves and Mindy Tousley taking on artists with chronic illness and disability challenges, they have included in the exhibition, accessible elements such as braille placards but also touchable art of which I am contributing a 3d printed sculpture. Titled ESCAPE HASH, it’s made up of 80 individually printed cuboid blocks, with hash symbols carved into them in alternating positive and negative relief put together to form a large hash symbol. I incorporated the following three elements into the design to enhance accessibility for the visually impaired:
Tactile Surface
Pattern
Contrast

And there’s more. There’s an article about the exhibition in Canvas Cleveland magazine by Amanda Koehn: http://canvascle.com/current-issue/ (scroll down page to Fall 2022 edition)

The following is an excerpt from the AAWR about the exhibition:
This September, the Artists Archives is proud to present W/O Limits, an exhibition which exclusively features the work of artists experiencing chronic illness and/or disability. Curated by Megan Alves and Mindy Tousley, the remarkable show emphasizes accessibility and raises awareness while inspiring visitors with the art that people with chronic illnesses and disabilities create.

Opening Reception Sept. 22 – 5:30-8:00pm

1824 East 123rd St, Cleveland OH 44106